Overview:

Summation has supplied many of the more commonly used fields in the default forms for the database, but you may find that you need additional fields or a custom form. You may want more fields than provided by default or custom fields not provided by Summation.

Note: Adding a new field is recommended over re-naming an existing one. You might rename a system field by mistake, which will be populated by data that you neither expected nor wanted. System fields in the Form Editor are identified with the # sign at the beginning of the name (for example, #Date and #TOE are system fields). System fields are automatically populated with system information.

Tutorial:

Steps

1. From the Options menu, select Utilities.
   The Utilities dialog box is displayed.
2. Click Create or Modify Forms.
   The Form Editor for Windows is displayed, showing the current form.
3. Maximize the Form Editor for Windows.
   The Form is also maximized.
   
4. Resize the form as needed to make additional room for the new fields and/or to re-organize the existing fields. You can resize the form the same as a window, by hovering the cursor near a corner to display the resize cursor (a line with arrows on both ends) and clicking and dragging the edge to resize it.
5. To move existing fields, use the arrow tool on the toolbar to select the fields and field labels that you want to move. To select several items at the same time, hold your Shift key while selecting the items, or hold your left mouse button down and move your cursor over an area.
   Black squares surround the frames of the selected items.
6. Move the items to their new locations.
7. Click the ab tool on the toolbar.
   The cursor is displayed with ab as the pointer.
8. Click the form at the location where you want to add a new field.
   The Select Name and Data Type dialog box is displayed. Existing fields are dimmed, and fields that are not on the form are available.
9. Click New.
   The Create a new column dialog box is displayed.
10. Type the name for the new field in the Column Name box. The Column Name is used in the database, and must be less than eight characters long. In addition, do not use special characters or spaces in the name.
11. Type the label for the field that you want displayed on the form in the Column Label box. You can customize the label without the restrictions imposed by the Column Name.
12. In the Data Type area, select a data type to assign to the field. To see a description of a data type, click the radio button next to it. The description is displayed underneath the data type options.
    
    Note: It is important to put some thought into your data type selection. Once you assign a data type to a field, it is difficult to change it.
    
    
13. Click Create New Column.
    The Form Editor for Windows dialog box is displayed, informing you that the column was created.
14. Click OK.
    The Create a new column dialog box is redisplayed.
15. Click Close.
    The Select Name and Data Type dialog box is redisplayed, with your new field selected by default. Repeat Steps 9 - 13 to create additional fields.
16. Click OK.
    The field is placed on the form. Use the arrow tool on the toolbar to adjust the positioning of the label and input box as needed.
17. From the File menu, select Save, or click Save on the toolbar.
    If your database has data in it, you are prompted to copy the data to a new table structure. Click OK.
18. From the File menu, select Exit.
    The Form Editor for Windows is closed, and the Utilities dialog box is redisplayed.
19. Click Close.
    The Utilities dialog box is closed.